Archive for 'Pretty Views in Greece'

While lots of beaches in Greece have become iconic and well-known internationally, while many Greek destinations have become favoured by the rich and famous, while there are lots of scenic spots in Greece, some have particularly strong reputations and ardent fans. If you're a fan of 1960s and 1970s music stars and hippy culture and the likes of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, and Joni Mitchell and aim to emulate their styles and lives then Matala Beach is the one for you. Now a rather more touristy and developed spot (though less so than many other towns in the area) but still a pretty gem that managed to attract all three aforementioned stars among others, inspire songs, and more in the past, this lovely beach is a perfect place for a day at the sea if you have found a vacation rental in Crete and are exploring some of the different seaside towns in the area.

Located in the Bay of Messara, 68km southwest of Heraklion, at the exit of a small valley where the plain Messara meets the Asteroussia Mountains, this naturally-sheltered beach boasts a lovely view to the islands of Paximadia and has long since been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Crete. The most famous beach of the South Heraklion prefecture, it is around 250m long and 45m wide and is a sand and pebble beach with crystal clear blue waters, which is flanked by yellow sandstone cliffs and backed by tamarisk trees. In addition to being picturesque it is also both steeped in millennia of history and boasts excellent facilities.

We recently wrote about the stunning and secluded beach of Glyka Nera in Crete. Secluded as that beach is, one of the only ways (if you choose not to hike a not insubstantial distance there) to get to the beach is by boat and while Glyka Nera itself is well worth going to, one of the towns that you can get a water taxi to the beach from, Loutro is a special beauty in its own right. It seemed a terrible shame not to mention it and its appeal too. So, if you have found a vacation rental in Crete and were considering planning a trip to Glyka Nera while on the island, as per our earlier recommendation, then we also recommend setting aside some time to explore Loutro.

Beautiful beaches are in no short supply in Greece but if you have found a vacation rental in Crete and are looking for some particularly scenic and picturesque examples then we have an excellent suggestion of one of her loveliest. Crete's beaches boast those kind of impossibly blue seas, dramatically craggy cliffs, and perfectly scenic settings that make people sigh immediately upon seeing a picture and wish themselves there...well, sigh no longer and get planning a trip to one Crete and one of her most stunning (which is really saying something) beaches; the truly magical Glyka Nera

Located in the Chania region, 43km west of Chora Sfakion and 75km south of the city of Chania, on the far southwest of Crete, Glyka Nera immediately captivates with its striking appearance and sheltered setting that is so far removed from the outside world (you'll need to take a boat or trek to it). Ranked one of the best beaches in Crete, Greece, and Europe, it is named Glyka Nera, or, “sweet water,” for the freshwater springs that gush out of the fine pebbly beach at various intervals.

Greece is home to lots of incredible natural gems from the towering rocky stacks of Meteora to the almost-too-perfect-to-be-real beaches of Balos and everything in between. Those who have found a vacation rental in Greece will quickly discover that the variety and quality of both ancient man-made tourist attractions and architectural gems for which Greece is famous is very much matched by an equal abundance of diverse and extraordinary natural phenomena and beauties. No matter where you are headed, there will, no doubt, be astounding landscapes and natural features to uncover and devour with your eyes and if you have found a vacation rental in Kefalonia, in particular, and you are exploring her landscape, then the most obvious pick among her rich selection of natural gems is the Cave of Melissani.

This truly unique and picturesque cave seems like something plucked from the pages of a fantasy novel: too ethereal and stunning in the soft morning rays or warm golden glow of the evening to be real. But, real it is! Located just outside Sami, the Cave of Melissani is home to an underwater lake so clear that visitors often report it felt like they were on a boat floating through the air and which is visible from above through a large opening in the top of the chamber. This opening is hugged by the lush trees of the forest and this paints a vividly colourful and picturesque image when it is viewed from both above and from inside the cave itself. B-shaped, the cave is 3.5km long, 40m wide, and 36m high and made up of two chambers that are separated by an island at the centre. In Greek mythology, the cave was said to be the home of nymphs – something that seems entirely plausible when one visits this hauntingly beautiful space – and it is actually named after a nymph called Melissani who killed herself and fell in the lake after Pan failed to return her love in one tale.

If you think of a holiday in Crete or Greece, you are likely to picture plenty of time on her incredible beaches, enjoying the stunning deep blue of the sea meeting the pale shores, the pleasant water temperatures, the great weather, and the beautiful surroundings. However, in addition to her beaches, her most obvious and well-known trait, the island is also home to lots of other amazing natural wonders and little surprises to uncover as you explore. One such incredible gem is Lake Kournas.

The only freshwater lake in Crete, this relatively large (at a maximum length of 1.087km and a maximum breadth of 0.88km) and shallow (at 22.5m at its deepest point) but stunning lake is located in a valley among the hills, surrounded by a particularly beautiful landscape, just a few kilometres from the sea. Known as Lake Koressia in antiquity, it is now named for the Arabic word, “kurna,” for, “lake,” (or bath) so calling it Lake Kournas in English is kind of like calling it Lake Lake!